History of War

Given that World War I is not remembered for its generalship, the fact that a highly competent and experienced group of senior commanders, who proved their worth during the Hundred Days, had emerged from the conditions of trench warfare may surprise.

On 15 November, the March to the Sea gets underway, with the wagon trains taking the roads and the infantry marching alongside. In a recurring pattern, the right wing feints towards Macon, confusing Confederate resistance as to the true goal of the m

“WE THOUGHT THE VERDICT OF VERSAILLES WAS A REAL CRIME AND THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. WHEN WE GOT INTO THE SECOND WAR WE WERE ALL CONVINCED THAT WE WERE RIGHT IN DEFENDING OUR INTERESTS AND COUNTRY” Born in Saxony and brought up in Hamburg, Koenig came f

“A SHOT HIT THE DRIVING SPROCKET, AND IF I HAD BEEN A BIT CLOSER IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY LEGS OFF” Graham Stevenson lied about his age to join the British Army. A native of Walsall, he joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in Egypt and first served in

Author: Craig L. Symonds Publisher: Oxford University Press Price: £25 A single volume covering the entirety of World War II at sea is an ambitious undertaking. With books devoted to the individual theatres, campaigns, engagements and even ships of t

THIS UNIQUE BATTLEFIELD CHANGED THE COURSE OF ENGLISH HISTORY AND IS NOW PRESERVED AS AN EXCEPTIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE The events of 22 August 1485, where Richard III was killed in battle and the Tudor dynasty began, are all on full display at the Bosw

Author: Giles Milton Publisher: John Murray Price: £25 There have been so many books written on the events of 6 June 1944 that it takes something special to stand out. Giles Milton has largely ignored the big picture of the Allied invasion of Normand

Published by the Royal Armouries, this book benefits from that institution’s immense collection of artefacts and photographs. This is a generously illustrated book – in fact the emphasis is often on the pictures rather than the words (many of the pho

Although Taylor had arguably scraped his victory at Buena Vista he was hailed as a national hero in the American national press. ‘Old Rough and Ready’ political clubs, called after Taylor’s nickname, almost immediately sprang up after the battle to s

WORDS PAUL GARSON  A RUSSIAN CIVILIAN UNVEILS A NEW POSTER, THE NAME OF HITLER SPELLED OUT IN CYRILLIC LETTERS History’s short-term memory, facilitated by Soviet efforts to fog over the perfidious treachery, often fails to recall that arch-enemies Na

Author: Roger L. Ransom Publisher: Cambridge University Press Price: £31.99 Roger L. Ransom’s book fills a gap on the groaning shelves of World War I histories, by arguing that these four years of massive bloodshed resulted overwhelmingly from an eco

Inspired by the concept of ‘Manifest Destiny’, the USA expands westwards and annexes Texas. When negotiations to purchase New Mexico and California from Mexico fail, the United States launches an offensive. Mexican forces retreat out of Texas. When

The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French before WWII that aimed to defend Tunisia from Fascist Italy. It was dominated by the Atlas Mountains, and the line ran for 35 kilometres (22 miles) between Wadi Zigzaou and the Matmat

The 1840s was an interesting crossroads in military technology. Although both the US and Mexican armies were still dominated by Napoleonic tactics and fashions, the technological impact of the Industrial Revolution was becoming apparent in the United

UK Release Date: 7 September Director: David Blair If ever there were a group of people whose actions in real life were so genuinely heroic and worthy of their legendary status, it is without a doubt the pilots and crews of the Polish squadrons that